Bending machine



J. H. ODENBACIH ET. AL 1,970,182

BENDING MACHINE Aug. 14, 1934.

Filed Dec. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 2 BY Z Jbim [aZZfanach g- J. H. ODENBACH ETAL 1,970,182

BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 av VENTO/es 7 J57"? H. Odenbach M Joivn Callanach A TirOR/VE Y Fatentecl Aug. 14, 1934 UNEED STATS Ara BENDING MACHINE John H. Odenbach and .i'ohn Cattanach, Rochester, N. 51.; said Cattanach assignor to said Odenbach Application December 19, 1932, Serial No. 647,875

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bending machine, and has for its object to afiord practical mechanism for the purpose of quickly and economically bending steel bars.

More particularly, a purpose of the invention is to shape a steel bar while in a cold state so as to give it gradually curved or arc-shaped form.

An additional object of the invention is to afiord a structure that can be used for bending a steel channel bar so that it may conform to the cross-sectional outline of a boat, such bars being employed in fabricating a steel freighter.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a structure incorporating a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing a channel bar clamped in position and ready for the bending operation;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the position of the bar after the bending operation has bene partially completed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the position of the channel bar prior to the operation of the eccentric which forces it against the form;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the channel bar after it has been forced against the form by rotation of the eccentric, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 showing the eccentric.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference characters represent the same parts throughout the several views, 1 designates a base which may be of concrete and upon which is positioned a casting or support 2 that is fixedly mounted on the base 1 by any suitable means, such as the bolt-securing devices 3.

Mounted on the support 2 and preferably formed integral therewith is an arc-shaped form '4 that has the curvature that it is desired to impart to the metal bar. The form 4 is provided in its operative face with a recess extending endwise of the form and conforming to the cross-section of the bar to be bent, which is disclosed herein as a channel bar. The recess includes top and bottom walls 5 engageable with the outer faces of the flanges of the channel bar, a vertical surface 6 engageable with the inner face of the web or body of the bar, and cut-away or angular portions 7 that afford clearance and permit inward expansion of the bar at these points when the bar is forced into the recess and bent, as will be described presently.

The form 4 is spaced above the support 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and 8 designatethe top and bottom arms of a yoke-like carrier. These arms are located in a horizontal position above and below the form and pivoted to swing on a central post 9 in a path conforming to the curvature of the form, the post 9 being at the center of a circle containing the arc of the form against which the bar is bent.

The outer ends of the arms 8 are extended toward each other and suitably united at their extremities to an extension or lever 10 carrying aclevis 11 to which is connected a block and tackle 12, the other end of which may be connected into any one of a series of openings 13 in an extension 14 that is bolted or otherwise attached to the work or channel bar. This connects the carrier and channel bar so that they move together and any slack occurring between them as the bar is bent can be taken. up to maintain a sufficiently tight connection. A cable 15 is connected from the end of extension 14 to suitable power operating means for maintaining a pull on the outer end of the eX- tension 14 to hold the carrier and work barin position after the latter has been bent partially around the form as required. g

The carrier is provided with means operated to progressively force the work or bar toward. the form and move the carrier around the form. This is preferably accomplished by pivotally mounting between the arms 8 a vertically arranged arbor 16 which is provided with an eccentric 17, and carries at its upper end a square post 18 to receive a wrench or operating lever 19.

As the eccentric is rotated toward the work to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the work isforced into the recess and closely against the form, and when the eccentric is turned back to its first position, it releases the carrier which then moves slightly around the form, following the work to which it is connected. The work is held after such bending by the cable 15, and successive operation of the eccentric 17 causes the bar to be bent a corresponding distance at each operation and the carrier to advance around to bring the eccentric into a new position.

During the bending operation, the Work or bar is anchored to a suitable stationary beam or support 20 by means of bolt-attaching devices 21 which securely hold the body of the bar and prevent any movement thereof as the end is bent around the form.

The operation of the device briefly is as follows: With the carrier in its initial position and the eccentric turned outwardly as in Fig. 1, the work, which in the present instance is a channel bar, is placed in position with its body portion 22 anchored to the stationary support 20 while the end 23 to be bent extends past the form in the position indicated and has fixedly connected thereto the extension 14. The carrier and work bar are connected for simultaneous movement when the latter is bent, and tension being placed on the cable 15 by any suit able power apparatus, the eccentric 17 is rotated by manually turning the lever 19, causing the eccentric to assume the position shown in Fig. 5 and thus forcing the channel bar tightly into the recess of the form. This causes a slight bending of the channel bar about the form and it is held in such bent position by the cable 1 5 while the eccentric is turned back to its initial position. At this point, the carrier moves slightly around the bar and the eccentric is in position to operate on a new portion of the bar. This operation is repeated at short distances around the bar until the bend in the metal is completed as far as required.

It will be understood that these operations are performed on the metal without applying heat,

and as the bar is bent around the form, it is essential that the outer faces of the flanges of the channel bar remain smooth. This is effected by the top and bottom walls 5 defining the recess in the form and which serve to prevent any crimping or expanding of the metal outwardly. The metal of the channel bar is permitted to expand slightly, or flow, in an inward direction, to compensate for the changing of its exterior form, and this is permitted by the cutaway portion '7.

While the invention has been described with respect to a particular construction, it is not confined to the details or precise arrangement herein disclosed, and this application is intended to cover any modifications or departures coming within the scope of the invention as contemplated by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a bending machine, the combination with a bed, of a support fixed on the bed and provided with an arcuate form arranged horizontally above said bed, the work-engaging face of said form having a longitudinally extending work-receiving recess the top and bottom walls of which conform substantially to the corresponding faces of a channel bar, the form being cut away adjacent to the corresponding inner faces of the channel bar to aiiord clearance and permit expansion of the metal inwardly when bending takes place, a yoke-like carrier pivoted on the support and having arms embracing the top and bottom of said form, and an eccentric arranged vertically between the arms of the carrier so that when the eccentric is rotated on the carrier, the work is forced into the recess against the form.

2. In a machine for bending a channel bar or the like, the combination with a bed, of a support fixedly mounted on the bed and provided with an arcuate form arranged in a horizontal plane and spaced above the bed, said form having a recess extending endwise of its operative face and corresponding to and adapted to receive the fianged side of a channel bar, a yokelike carrier with arms embracing the top and bottom of the form and pivotally mounted on said support so as to swing in a path similar to that of the form, and a cylindrical work-engaging member pivoted between said arms so as to rotate about an axis extending transversely of the channel bar and eccentrically of the cylindrical periphery of said work-engaging memher, the latter being rotatable while the carrier is stationary and acting to wipe over the plane side of the channel bar entirely across the same and thereby to move it toward the form.

3. In a machine for bending a channel bar or the like, the combination with an arcuate form having a recess extending endwise and corresponding in cross-section to the flanged side of the channel bar, a yokelike carrier with arms embracing the top and bottom of the form and pivotally mounted to swing in a path similar to that of the form, and a cylindrical work-engaging member pivoted between said arms on an axis extending transversely of the channel bar and eccentrically of the cylindrical periphery of said work-engaging member, the latter being rotatable while the carrier is stationary and acting to wipe over the plane side of the channel bar entirely across the same and thereby move it toward the form.

JOHN H. ODENBACH. JOHN CATTANACH. 

